It sure wasn’t pretty, but the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the New York Jets in Week 13. Sunday’s 13-8 road victory was the second straight for this Falcons team, which remains atop the NFC South with a 6-6 record.
Here are 10 takeaways from Atlanta’s second road win of the season.
1
Jessie Bates strikes again
Falcons safety Jessie Bates came up with his fifth interception of the season during Sunday’s win. It’s hard to imagine where this team might be without Bates’ contributions. Atlanta has six wins and you could argue the team would have at least two more losses if not for its play-making safety. The Falcons defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown in nine quarters of football. Bates might be in the running for Defensive Player of the Year if he continues to dominate down the stretch.
2
Bijan Robinson goes over 1,000 all-purpose yards
While it was far from an offensive showcase, Falcons running back Bijan Robinson hit a notable milestone on Sunday. The rookie topped 1,000 all-purpose yards for the season in Week 13. Robinson finished the game with 53 rushing yards and 26 receiving yards. For the season, the former Texas star has 756 rushing yards, and 266 receiving yards after 12 games.
3
Offense sputters
The Jets have a good defense, so a close game was expected. Still, it was tough to watch the offense for most of the afternoon. Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder completed just 12 of 27 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown. Atlanta’s offense is no stranger to mediocre passing performances, but the team rushed for just 90 yards on the ground in Week 13. Tight end Kyle Pitts led the team with 51 receiving yards and MyCole Pruitt scored the game’s only touchdown.
4
Defense steps up
Atlanta’s defense has been carrying the team all season and Sunday was no exception. Bud Dupree had a monster game, finishing with seven tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss against the Jets. Falcons defensive tackle David Onyemata also turned in a stellar performance. Nate Landman forced a fumble and rookie Clark Phillips III was solid in place of an injured A.J. Terrell. Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen has done a hell of a job this season.
5
Drake London held to just one catch
The Falcons were ineffective through the air on Sunday and wide receiver Drake London was essentially neutralized by Jets CB Sauce Gardner. London finished Week 13 with just one reception on five targets for eight total yards. On a day when Mack Hollins was not playing, London was a total non-factor. To be fair, though, there weren’t many passing yards to go around on Sunday.
6
Injury updates
Cornerback A.J. Terrell went down on the team’s opening drive with a concussion and did not return. Not long after that, right tackle Kaleb McGary injured his knee. Linebacker Nate Landman was knocked out and Jeff Okudah was injured on the final drive of the game. Arthur Smith said he was optimistic about the injuries the team sustained on Sunday.
Arthur Smith said the Falcons are "optimistic" about the injuries sustained today. Said they'll have to wait on Monday imagery with Nate Landman and Kaleb McGary, though.
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) December 3, 2023
7
NFC South standings
| W | L | T | Pct. | PF | PA | Home | Away | |
| Falcons | 6 | 6 | .500 | 226 | 240 | 4-2 | 2-4 | |
| Bucs | 5 | 7 | .417 | 233 | 245 | 3-3 | 2-4 | |
| Saints | 5 | 7 | .417 | 257 | 255 | 2-3 | 3-4 | |
| Panthers | 1 | 11 | .083 | 191 | 313 | 1-4 | 0-7 |
8
What's next for Atlanta?
In Week 14, the Falcons host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Buccaneers are taking on the Carolina Panthers and they’ve struggled since the Falcons defeated them back in Week 7. Tampa Bay has struggled on the road this season, while Atlanta is 4-2 inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
